Deployable rain catching system

ABSTRACT

The invention consists of an umbrella-like section used in an inverted vertical position as a funnel to receive rain water. The center of this foldable funnel is open and allows the water to flow out. The funnel is positioned over a vertical tubular housing, which has the dual purpose of channeling the water to a cistern, and to serve as the housing for the folded funnel. A mechanism consisting of a system of pulleys, and optionally electric motor, extracts and retracts the funnel as required by either human intervention, or automated logical decisions of a control device, or a combination of both, according to the degree of sophistication desired.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns the collection of rain water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In all areas of the world where water is either scarce or not availablefrom central distribution systems, it is customary to resort to methodsof catching rain water before it reaches the ground and runs offTraditional methods are using the roofs of habitations, funneling thewater through a system of gutters to a cistern, or building paved areason suitably sloped ground, also channeling the water to a cistern. Allpresent methods have the following drawbacks: 1) they are open at alltimes to the accumulation of debris, bird and other animal pollution,thus rendering the water unsuitable for direct consumption, 2) theypermanently occupy the land area for the intended purpose, 3) they areusing rigid structures, which are unwieldy to handle beyond moderatesizes, and 4) they do not readily lend themselves to automaticunattended operation The present invention offers the deployment of arain catching surface solely during the occurrence of rain Aftercessation of rain, the surface is retracted into its housing, whichoccupies a land area which can be designed in the order of one hundredthof the deployed catching surface. In its standby mode, the system istotally sealed and is impervious to the intrusion of debris of any sort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of an umbrella-like section used in an invertedvertical position as a funnel to receive rain water. The center of thisfoldable funnel is open and allows the water to flow out. The funnel ispositioned over a vertical tubular housing, which has the dual purposeof channeling the water to piping and storage systems which are not partof this invention, and to serve as the housing for the folded funnel. Amechanism consisting of a system of pulleys, and optionally electricmotor, extracts and retracts the funnel as required by either humanintervention, or automated logical decisions of a control device, or acombination of both, according to the degree of sophistication desired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is presented in several levels of sophistication:

-   1) The basic device, as a hand operated system.-   2) The basic device with the addition of a motor drive and a manual    control box.-   3) An automated control unit serving one or a multiplicity of    devices as in 2) above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the cross-section of a vertical tube capable of housing afoldable surface in the shape of an inverted umbrella, with said surfaceomitted from the figure. It shows the mechanism used to extract andretract said foldable surface.

FIG. 2 displays the same cross-section as in FIG. 1 with the addition ofan electric motor replacing the manual operation shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the skeleton structure of the foldable surface.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the unfolded surface, and its associatedcross-section.

FIG. 5 is a detail of the upper section of the tube, showing asupporting ring for the purpose of facilitating the retraction of thefoldable surface.

FIG. 6 shows the cross-section of the tube equipped with the partiallydeployed skeleton of the foldable structure, and the location of thewater outlet.

FIG. 7 shows a control system for a single or a multiplicity of systems,including the various elements that govern the decisions to extract orretract the foldable structure(s), such as photovoltaic panel, storagebattery, moisture sensor, anemometer, and control circuitry.

FIG. 8 details the logic of the power and control circuitry in the formof a block diagram.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system consists essentially of a foldable surface similar to aninverted umbrella with a hole in its center, which acts as a funnel, anda vertical tube capable of housing this funnel in its folded state. Thesystem also comprises the means, manual or automatic, to extract andretract the funnel according to rain conditions. The housing tube servesas the conduit to rainwater towards whatever storage system may bedesired.

Reference is made to FIG. 1, which represents the basic mechanism. Avertical tube (1) is equipped with a set of three pulleys: one pulley(3) near the top allows for an outside cable to enter inside the tubeand be connected to an element (2) representing diagrammatically thefunnel assembly. A second pulley (4) is placed at a distance below thefirst, and allows the end of another cable to enter the tube as well.The third pulley (5) is entirely inside the tube, and has the functionto redirect this second cable to the element (2). With the ends of bothcables attached to element (2), pulling on the first cable will raiseelement (2) within the tube, and pulling on the other cable will lowersaid element (2).

Reference is made to FIG. 2. Mechanization of the motion is achievedwith the addition of an electric motor (6) placed such that the axis ofits driving shaft is parallel to the shafts of the two upper pulleys.The two separate cables are now replaced with a single cable, whichwraps several times around the driving shaft, which provides the motionby friction.

In either form above, the funnel is identical and is represented inFIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows the structure of the skeleton supporting thecanvas constituting the funnel. It is the detail of the element (2)shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A center shaft (7) supports a number of radialarticulated ribs (8), anchored at a fixed location (9) with the purposeof sustaining the canvas surface of FIG. 4, and a number of spreadingribs (10), articulated at both ends, and joining at a ring (I 1), forthe purpose of orderly deployment of the canvas surface. Elements (12)guide the structure as it moves through the tube. Element (13) is acircular cover, which seals the tube when the funnel is in its fullretracted position.

FIG. 4 shows the top view of the funnel's canvas in the design of ahexagon, as one of many possible designs such as octagon, decagon andother regular patterns. The area (14) of the canvas has the shape of acylinder, with the purpose of guiding water into the tube below. A viewof cross-section a-a (15) shows the fully deployed funnel, designed atits center portion to guide water into the tube.

The funnel assembly articulates, deploys and closes very much in themanner of traditional umbrellas, now long in the public domain, with thenew aspect that the assembly relies partly on gravity to close, and thatthe canvas requires little force to assume its retracted state.

In the illustrated design of a hexagon in FIG. 4, taken as an example,each one-sixth part of the canvas is a panel, for which the angle at theapex is reduced a few degrees from that of a pure equilateral triangle(60 degrees). The resulting assemblage of six such panels yields thedesired funnel shape.

FIG. 5 shows a retraction guide mounted on the upper end of the tube. Aring (16) is supported by three members (17), which are attached to thetube (1), the ring being placed at a distance over the top end of thetube, and concentrically to it. The purpose of the ring is to reduce theforces necessary to retract the funnel into the tube at the beginning ofits travel.

FIG. 6 shows the relative position of tube, funnel assembly and guidering in a partially deployed state. In addition it shows a connection(18) at the lower sealed end of the tube for channeling water to acommon storage device.

Reference is made to FIGS. 2 and 7. Direct current power is applied at alow voltage to the motor and controlled by the elements of FIG. 7. Theelectric motor's rotating direction is a function of the polarity of theapplied voltage. Travel limit devices are included in the cable drivingsystem so that the distance traveled by the funnel assembly isrestricted to the distance between full closure and full deployment. Inthe semi-automatic operation, manual intervention may decide, usinghuman intelligence, when to apply the voltage, and when to reverse itspolarity. In the case of the fully autonomous operation, logicalelements, implemented with solid-state circuitry, provide the decisions.These decisions include, but are not limited to, the presence ofmoisture as reported by a moisture sensor (22), (indicating the presenceof raining conditions, or absence thereof, indicating cessation ofrain), wind velocity, as measured by element (23), indicatingpotentially damaging forces, and appropriate delays to retraction,allowing for catching surfaces to dry.

Power to the system is provided by a suitably dimensioned photovoltaicpanel (20), which keeps a rechargeable battery {(32) in FIG. 8} readilycharged at all times. The battery is housed in enclosure (21). Thecontrol circuitry is housed in the enclosure (21) as well. The entireassembly is mounted on a post (19) firmly planted in the ground.

Reference is made to FIG. 8, which shows the control elements involvedin decision-making. Rechargeable battery (21), kept charged byphotovoltaic cells (20), powers the entire system consisting of thecontrol circuitry and one or more rain catching systems. Sensors (26)produce signals establishing the presence or absence of rain (27), aswell as the presence or absence of excessive wind (28). The logiccircuitry produces either a signal, based on no wind and delayed no rain(29) which commands a reversing switch (24) to produce power on lines(31) to the rain catching systems in the direction of retraction, or asignal (30), based on the condition of rain and no excessive wind, whichcommands the reversing switch (24) to produce power to the rain catchingsystems in the direction of deployment of the surfaces.

1-18. (canceled) 19-A system comprising one or a plurality of units capable of extending a flexible folded surface designed to catch rain water. 20-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface. 21-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and including a control unit comprising a combination, but not limited to, a) a self-sustained power source, such as, but not limited to a solar panel associated with a rechargeable battery, b) moisture detecting elements, c) a wind speed detecting device, d) electronic controls with the intelligence to operate the system. 22-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and said tube of a height as determined by the chosen dimensions of the said rain catching surface, to be vertically mounted on the ground. 23-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally. 24-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube. 25-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel. 26-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in an orderly fashion, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs. 27-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft. 28-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats. 29-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys. 30-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube. 31-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position. 32-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit. 33-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit, said cables being alternatively actuated by an electromechanical device, under the control of either manual intervention, or a weather detecting electronic system using the detection of moisture and wind speed for the operating and safety aspects. 34-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit, said cables being alternatively actuated by an electromechanical device, under the control of either manual intervention, or a weather detecting electronic system using the detection of moisture and wind speed for the operating and safety aspects, such mechanical device consisting of, but not limited to a geared down bi-directional motor operating on low voltage direct current. 35-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit, said cables being alternatively actuated by an electromechanical device, under the control of either manual intervention, or a weather detecting electronic system using the detection of moisture and wind speed for the operating and safety aspects, such mechanical device consisting of, but not limited to a geared down bidirectional motor operating on low voltage direct current, and said electromechanical device equipped with means to limit the travel of a funnel assembly between its fully retracted and fully deployed positions. 36-A system comprising a post supporting power and control devices, the purpose of which is to provide autonomous power and intelligence to operate the system as in claims 19 through 35, said devices comprising a rechargeable battery, a solar panel equipped with photovoltaic cells, a logic controller making decisions based on weather conditions and system status, and electrical connecting means. 